As we stepped into the kitchen together, the room buzzed with energy. I tried to push the feeling of the moment with Holly upstairs. Her skin was soft under my fingertips, and her deep blue eyes were fixed on me, and I lost myself for a moment in them.

I wouldn’t lose focus again like that. This girl was a nightmare, and I tried to remember that.

Brandon was by the kitchen sink, with my niece in his arms. Stopping for a moment to watch how he held the baby with such love, I sighed briefly.

“Are you okay?” Holly whispered beside me.

“Would you look at that?” I pointed my finger in the direction of Brandon and Skye.

She turned to me after she stood for a moment staring at them. “I take it that’s your brother.”

I turned to face her as everyone in the kitchen busily set the table for breakfast. Her big, blue eyes stared up at me, and I didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone with eyes so deeply blue and big before. Her eyes were a sharp contrast to the pink lips on her face.

“Yeah,” I breathed.

She plastered a smile on her face and turned toward everyone in the kitchen. “Does anyone need any help?” She walked away from me, and I made my way over to Brandon.

“She’s gotten so big,” I said, reaching out to hold my baby niece.

“Nine months old, but she’s a feisty thing. Just like her mother.” Brandon’s green eyes caught Abigail’s across the room and they shared a sweet moment between them.

Skye was placed in my arms and her light green eyes, the same as Brandon’s shined back at me. She was such a cute child with a light pattering of dark brown hair across her head. Chubby cheeks, soft skin, and all the love and attention she needed.

She smiled to me, and I kissed her cheeks. Holly came up alongside me, and smiled to the baby grabbing her tiny hand in hers.

“She’s so cute. Do you think you’ll ever have one?”

Her question caught me off guard and I turned my lips into a frown. “No, I don’t think so.”

Being here was harder than I thought. Realizing how much I had shut out the world the past few months, I sighed and handed the baby back over to Brandon.

He placed her in a highchair, and we all sat around the table. My heart felt heavy for the first time since our arrival at the thought of my mother not being able to join us. I closed my eyes as I sat there, and felt a warm tingle across my thigh. My eyes shot opened and I glanced down noticing Holly’s hand on my leg.

“Are you okay?” she whispered, leaning in close to my ear.

“Yeah I’m fine.” I grabbed her hand to take it off my lap not able to handle her touch, and returned my focus back on everyone smiling around the table.

The conversation was light as we enjoyed breakfast. Abigail was a good host as she laughed with her sister, and fed the baby.

Brandon occasionally stared at her, and he appeared happy. I took in a deep breath as my heart opened to him more, and the thought of his happiness made me smile.

It wasn’t very long ago when my brother and I wanted nothing to do with each other, and always competed in life. We still had so much to learn about each other, so much to mend.

Brandon called my name from across the table, and I shook away the memories. “Yeah,” I said.

“We were asking what you wanted to do today. I want to show you all of the improvements I’ve made on the farm. It’s been so long since you’ve been here.” Brandon said.

“Sure, I’d like that. Holly, did you want to come along,” I said as I turned to her.

Abigail cut in, “No, she can hang with us.”

Holly smiled and faced Abigail. “I’d like that.”

I smiled as I felt of course she would rather hang out with anyone other than me. We continued eating as soft Christmas music played in the background and I chuckled to myself as I remembered Holly saying she loved Christmas music. What kind of person loves Christmas music? She always seemed happy, but a small part of her appeared troubled, especially when I mentioned her mother. I wondered what the real reason of why she wasn’t with her family this holiday season, and I sat there lost in thought for a moment.

After breakfast was cleaned, Brandon and I put on our winter coats and stepped out back through the kitchen door.

The clear fields of grass were now covered with crops and I turned to Brandon. “What are you growing here?”

“It’s the organic feed for the chickens, and of course Abigail has a small garden of some vegetables off in the corner of the plot.”

Things had changed since I’d been gone, and I was so proud of Brandon. “Brandon, you’ve done a great job here.” I frowned momentarily but Brandon picked up on it.

“Is everything okay?” His blonde hair was highlighted by the sun as it tried to break free from the cloud coverage above.

“Yeah, I’ve just had a couple of shitty months since Vivian and I broke up.”

“But, now you have Holly. She seems great, so far. I’m happy you’ve found someone. How did you two meet?” Brandon asked.

“She’s been my neighbor for some time now, and one day I finally asked her out.”

“That’s great, I can’t believe she said yes to you,” Brandon said, laughing.

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” I shook my head.

“Nothing, I’m just busting your chops. Even though you’re my older brother, I still worry about you.”

“Don’t, I’m fine.” I said as we ventured into the chicken coop. My thoughts drifted to Holly and I wondered how she was getting along with the girls back at the house.

“So, George has been coming by a lot to help as well,” Brandon said, breaking me from my thoughts.

“Sabrina’s father? How is he?”

“He’s fine. I invited him and his wife for Christmas dinner.” Brandon finished showing off a few minor improvements he made as we walked around.

“What did you get Holly for Christmas?” he asked.

Shit. Would I need to get her a present? The thought had never crossed my mind. I would look like a jackass if we all sat around Christmas morning and I had no gift for her. What does she even like? I could get her a new pair of slippers, she was definitely in need of a new pair.

“I haven’t given it much thought yet.” I blushed, and ran my hand down my jaw.

“To be honest, we can go out in a few days and shop for the ladies. I haven’t gotten Abigail anything yet either.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? I thought for sure you would have some major romantic gift that would make the girls swoon, and make the rest of us look like assholes.”

We laughed as Brandon ran a hand along the back of his neck. “With the farm and baby, I haven’t had time to even think about a gift.”

“Yeah, but you love it right?” I asked.

“I couldn’t be happier.” I could see it in his eyes as he smiled at me. Happiness.

I grinned to my baby brother, and raised my hand to pat him on the back. We headed across the lawn to the shed and garage as he finished showing me around.

After a while, we headed back into the house as the afternoon sun warmed up the air just a bit. It was still chilly, but not as bad as the morning had been.

When we walked inside, Holly sat at the kitchen table with Amy and Abigail. Skye was seated still in her highchair and the ladies sipped coffee.

Laughing and joking around, I caught Holly’s eyes and smiled. I glanced around and asked, “Where’s Dan?”

“He ran to the store for a few items we need for dinner,” Amy said.

Brandon leaned over and kissed Abigail on the head, and I felt I should show Holly a little affection as well. I didn’t want to kiss her, she definitely made it clear she didn’t want that. So I leaned in, resting my hand on her shoulder as I smiled to the ladies.

“So, we officially love your girlfriend,” Abigail said, beaming brightly.

“Oh is that so?” I asked, chuckling.

“Yes, so don’t screw it up.” Abigail stood from her chair and went to get a towel off the kitchen counter to wipe Skye’s mouth.

My fingers jerked across Holly’s shoulder as my hand trembled from touching her. Her shoulder tensed and I dropped my hand to my side as I stood behind her chair.

“Holly, want to take a walk? I can show you around.” I placed my hand back on her shoulder, and felt her soft blonde hair under my fingertips. I moved my thumb in lazy circles over her, grabbing a few loose strands in between my fingers.

“Sure.” She bounced up from the chair and my hand fell.

“Have fun you two,” Amy and Abigail called from their seats.

I waved as I showed her out the backdoor. We walked down the steps of the back porch as she wrapped her sweater tighter around her.

“Did you want to head back inside and grab your coat?” I asked.

“No, I’m fine. It’s too cold to not wear it, but too hot to wear it. Don’t you hate that?”

“Uhh, I guess.” I wasn’t sure what she was really talking about, and suddenly I felt weird for walking alone with her. What did I really know about her? Who would have ever thought I would be here this holiday season with her.